Leelanau County, sheriff's deputies settle lawsuit

October 19, 2012

SUTTONS BAY, Mich. (AP) — Leelanau County's board of commissioners voted to settle a federal lawsuit brought three years ago by several deputies who accused the county sheriff and undersheriff of eavesdropping on their private conversations and other misconduct.

County officials wouldn't reveal the settlement terms, but county Administrator Chet Janik said financial and other details would be available once attorneys file a final agreement with the court.

"That document will be public," Janik told the Traverse City Record-Eagle for a story published Thursday. "I'm guessing it will probably be about six weeks."

The case against the county, Sheriff Mike Oltersdorf and Undersheriff Scott Wooters was set to go to trial starting next week, and the county's insurance company advised the county to settle, rather than risk losing at trial, Janik said.

Advertisement

The board voted 5-1 to accept the settlement.

"Everyone is glad it's been resolved," Janik said. "It's been a long process for all sides, and it's caused tremendous stress on all sides."

In the lawsuit, the deputies accused Oltersdorf and Wooters of illegally listening to conversations on what employees believed to be private lines at the sheriff's department on several occasions dating to 2006. The suit claimed Oltersdorf used recordings of conversations critical of him to intimidate and discipline officers.

Oltersdorf, Wooters and Mike Dettmer, an attorney for the deputies, all declined to comment.